Jonathan Woodgate

Jonathan Woodgate, born on January 22, 1980, is a distinguished English football manager and former player, currently serving as a first-team coach at Premier League club Manchester United. His football journey began at Middlesbrough, but it was at Leeds United, where he moved at the tender age of sixteen, that he truly started to make his mark.

In 2003, Woodgate made a significant move to Newcastle United for a transfer fee of nine million pounds. Despite facing numerous injury challenges, he showcased his talent, particularly in European competitions, which led to his signing by Real Madrid in 2004 for thirteen point four million pounds. Unfortunately, injuries continued to plague his career, and he did not make a single appearance during the entire 2004–05 season. His debut for Real Madrid was notably unfortunate, as he scored an own goal and received a red card.

After a brief stint with Real Madrid, where he played fourteen matches, Woodgate returned to his roots, joining Middlesbrough on loan before making a permanent move for seven million pounds. In 2008, he transferred to Tottenham Hotspur for eight million pounds, where he made a memorable impact by scoring the winning goal in the League Cup final against Chelsea. However, recurring injuries limited his appearances in the following seasons, leading to his release in 2011 and a subsequent pay-as-you-play deal with Stoke City. He played for Stoke during the 2011–12 season before rejoining Middlesbrough, where he concluded his playing career in 2016.

Post-retirement, Woodgate embraced coaching roles at Middlesbrough, culminating in his appointment as the club's manager in June 2019 after Tony Pulis's departure. His tenure lasted just over a year, ending in June 2020. He then joined AFC Bournemouth's coaching staff on February 1, 2021, and was appointed caretaker manager shortly thereafter. Despite being given the role until the end of the season, he departed in June after the team failed to secure promotion back to the Premier League.